Every year, as June approaches, the world is reminded of one of the most significant events in modern Chinese history: the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 and the tragedy that unfolded on June 4. More than three decades later, the Chinese Communist Party continues to censor discussion of the event inside Mainland China. References to June Fourth remain heavily restricted, and younger generations often grow up with little knowledge of what occurred.
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Reflections from the 10th Austrian Economics Meeting Europe in Angers
From May 28 to May 30, I had the privilege of participating in the 10th Austrian Economics Meeting Europe, held in the historic city of Angers, France. Events like this remind me why academic exchange remains one of the most important elements of intellectual development.
Continue readingHow Long Should It Take to Start a Business? Economic Freedom, Bureaucracy, and the Jobs Spain Never Sees
How long should a citizen have to wait before being allowed to create a firm? The question sounds administrative, but it is fundamentally economic and political. A new firm is not merely a registration in a government database. It can become a workplace, a source of income for a family, a competitor that forces established firms to improve, or the first opportunity for someone who has been unemployed to enter the labor market. When the state makes entry unnecessarily slow, expensive, or uncertain, the cost is therefore borne not only by the entrepreneur standing at the administrative counter. It is also borne by people whose jobs, wages, products, and opportunities may never come into existence.
Continue readingTrump’s Visit to Mainland China: Tactical Easing, Structural Rivalry, and the Real Taiwan Question
Donald Trump’s visit to Mainland China should not be misunderstood as the end of strategic confrontation between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party. In the short term, bilateral relations may indeed become more manageable. The two sides reportedly discussed trade, tariffs, agriculture, aviation, technology, Taiwan, and the Iranian regime; Reuters described the trade outcomes as “preliminary,” with tentative understandings rather than a grand settlement.
Continue readingWhen Cinema Meets Historical Literacy: A Reflection on The King’s Man
It is not uncommon to see sharply divided reactions to films like The King’s Man. Some viewers dismiss it as chaotic or historically confusing, while others appreciate its deeper narrative structure and references. The difference, more often than not, lies not in the film itself, but in the viewer’s familiarity with history—particularly the complex web of European political relations before and during the First World War.
Continue readingIncentives, Burden-Sharing, and the Reconfiguration of the International Security Order
In the current international security landscape, one can observe a phenomenon that deserves careful and dispassionate analysis. The pressure exerted by Donald Trump on NATO allies—particularly regarding defense spending and strategic responsibility—has, in the short term, led several member states to reassess their own security obligations. One visible consequence has been a renewed European attention to strategic chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global energy flows.
This development has attracted criticism. Some argue that such pressure undermines the so-called “postwar international order.” Yet this criticism often rests on an insufficiently examined premise: that the existing order is both neutral and self-sustaining. A closer look at the historical evolution of that order suggests otherwise.
Continue readingOn the 101st Anniversary of Sun Yat-sen’s Death: The Revolution Remains Unfinished
March 12 this year marked the 101st anniversary of the death of Sun Yat-sen, the founding father of the Republic of China. In 1924, after being invited north amid efforts to address China’s political fragmentation, he journeyed toward Beijing despite already being in poor health. Historical accounts agree that after the October 1924 Beijing coup, Feng Yuxiang, working with Duan Qirui and Zhang Zuolin, sought to bring Sun north for discussions on national affairs; Sun issued his Northward Declaration in November 1924 and arrived in Beijing in December. His condition deteriorated rapidly, and he died in Beijing on March 12, 1925.
Continue readingWhy Western Europe Is Falling Behind: Welfare States, Interventionism, and the Loss of Economic Vitality
To say that Western Europe is “poor” would be inaccurate and intellectually dishonest. Compared with developing countries, Western Europe remains wealthy. But that is not the correct benchmark. The real question is whether Western Europe has reached the level of dynamism, innovation, and economic vitality that its history, institutions, and human capital should allow. On this standard, the answer is increasingly no.
Continue readingAttitude, Curiosity, and the Formation of Serious Scholars
In many situations, attitude is decisive. This is not a motivational cliché, but a structural fact about intellectual life. Over the years, when I speak with younger scholars in the Austrian School—particularly in Spain—I repeatedly observe a striking pattern. Those who listen attentively, reflect carefully, and actually put suggestions into practice tend to achieve excellent results. Their academic trajectories advance more quickly, but more importantly, they grow as individuals. Their confidence deepens, their intellectual independence strengthens, and their capacity for judgment matures.
Continue readingThe Perils of Secondhand Knowledge: Socialism, State Intervention, and Intellectual Responsibility
In every field of human endeavor—religion, economics, politics, and scholarship—there is a temptation to rely on secondhand knowledge. It feels safe, it feels convenient, but it is profoundly dangerous. Secondhand commentary not only distorts the truth; it also blinds us to reality and opens the door to errors with consequences that stretch across nations and generations. From theology to international policy, from economic reform to ideological conflict, the lesson is clear: nothing can replace firsthand study, serious engagement, and intellectual humility.
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